Influences
I can’t honestly list all of the drummers and other musicians who have had an influence on my playing, but these are the top ones that come to mind.
Stewart Copeland: My all-time favorite. Stewart Copeland’s drumming with The Police to me typifies not just creating your own way to groove on the kit, but really asserting drums as a voice in the band. Copeland to me is not a drummer but a musician who places drums as a vital component of the music. This video is of one of my favorite Stewart drum performances, which an incredible reggae/ska groove featuring tasty use of Octobans, ride and the hihat. Here’s a live version (ah, the ’80s…).
Tim Alexander: Tim of Primus plays hard-edged grooves the way they were meant to be played. Taking many cues from Stewart Copeland, Alexander laid down some incredible odd-time beats with equally competent musicians. He supposedly also played for awhile with the Blueman Group in Las Vegas. Here’s one of his amazing solos.
Dennis Chambers. I’m not a follower of Dennis’ work, but every time I can one of his videos, I’m amazing at how somebody can lay down such a groove, play like a monster and appear so calm and relaxed. Chambers is a true master. Also see this video with an amazing, young Tony Royster.
Charlie Watts: Having grown up listening to the Rolling Stones, it hasn’t been until just recently that I’ve picked up on the unassuming genius of Charlie’s playing. Simple, solid and incredibly musical.
Heather Dunn: A little known, early ‘90s indie-pop band, Tiger Trap, from Sacramento had, to my ears, one of the most tasteful drummers of the genre: Heather Dunn. Not knowing much of the band, and I can’t remember how I stumbled upon them, but I caught one of their shows in Sacto. Dunn’s drumming was incredibly tasteful with sporadic accents all over the place. Her dynamic playing had a lasting impression on me, and I copped her licks as much as I could in Zoinks!. Check out the Myspace page.
Troy Mowatt: By far, one of the most dynamic punk drummers of all time. Troy’s work with 7 Seconds has been a tremendous inspiration to me since 1986. Check out this video from 1986.
Dave Weckl: While I generally don’t prefer the music Weckl plays — jazz, fusion, etc. — he is a drum-playing master. I was fortunate enough to catch Weckl with the Chick Corea Akoustic Band in the early ‘90s, sitting not less than 20 feet from him to a crowd of probably less than 100 people. Nobody can play like Weckl. Check out this clip.
Brendan Canty: For a band that never really seemed (to want) to have a good time, Brendan Canty’s sculpting of Fugazi’s emo-punk/funkish grooves are solid, innovative and a lesson for all on hanging back on your drumming. Check out this clip, which is has an uncharacteristically lower-tuned snare than Canty played for the bulk of the Fugazi years (or was the tape slowed down?). This kind of playing is more typical of the Canty sound. That’s a ship’s bell hanging on the right side of his kit.
Terry Bozzio, a long-time ostinato master and composer of drums as music. Bozzio is more than a player; he’s an innovative musician who happens to use drums and percussion to create orchestral works played with mind-blowing ability. This is just a sample. Or this one playing with Korn.
Joey Jordison, the obligatory nod toward my metal roots – and much more: Joey Jordison is like a monkey on meth around the kit and leads the charge for the double-bass speed demons. I like the in-your-face cam view of this video. And here’s one of his disgustingly fast solos.
